Chapter 1
She didn’t dare move from the hiding place among the shadows. The moon was full with light, threatening to give away the young soul watching a blood bath unfold in front of her. Eyes darting between the figure that hissed under the moonlight and the shield the tree trunk had become.
The other figure regrettably wore a white button shirt, the top three buttons undid to reveal most of her neck and chest. Blood dripping from lips, tongue licking the edges of fangs covered in the rich liquid. Using the back right hand to wipe stray drops from the vampire’s upper cheek from the splash of the kill. Eyes growing darker like wine on an evening night, red and full of threats. Taking a deep breath, reeling back in the kill of the doe with eyes closed and mouth agape. The vampire’s moment was ruined with a faint scent of wolf nearby, eyes slowly opening again to scan the shadow edge. Using a hand on a knee to help steady herself up, blood dripping more down the front and staining the already ruined shirt. “I can smell you.”
If Miku was in wolf form, she definitely would have her hunch up ready in defense for a possible petty fight over the hunted animal. The worn sneakers shuffled over the damp grass, moonlight slowly uncovering the young shifter who had her back pressed to the tree. Both hands laying flat behind her, palms feeling the trunks grooves trying to relax the anxious girl. Turquoise eyes staring down the blood covered woman, face showing no emotion but the anxiety was strong smelling. “You are on wolf ground.”
“What are you going to do about it?” The vampire basically snickered back, her tongue licking the corners of her mouth. It was a small tactic used to flash one's fangs to opponents as a threat, and this time it was Luka using it to boost her own ego while challenging the werewolf. “Huh pup, what are you going to do?”
She wasn’t deemed the smartest or strongest wolf in the pack to take on a vampire by herself. Miku’s nails started to dig in the bark of the tree, trying to muster any tips locked in the back of her head from younger years of schooling. One option was to equally toy with the vampire. “Nothing.” She finally choked out, bringing her chin high to look more confident then she sounded.
“Nothing?”
“That’s correct.” The werewolf nodded. Her palms push off the trunk, taking a step away from her once shield. Miku kept her left side facing the vampire, showing no interest in her enemy but also not turning her back completely. Dirty sneakers clumsily kicked fallen oak leaves around while walking a half circle around the blood sucker, never truly taking eyes off but still not giving full attention.
“Then scram.”
“Working on it.” She answered more relaxed. “I was just taking in the pitiful view of a vampire on werewolf territory, but I’ll go now. There’s nothing really worth my time.”
Blood was splattered onto Miku’s face fast. She wasn’t sure if the stabs at the vampire’s delicate ego is what would get her own throat slashed, but Miku kept her eyes closed for a short second. Hot angry breaths had filled her nose, the metallic taste on the edge of her lips. Slowly opening her eyes to meet the now very pissed off vampire, her eyes screamed to cause harm to the werewolf. “Want to rephrase your response?” She practically hissed into Miku’s face, her hand that was gripped on the chin of the other cryptid had tightened, causing Miku to give a dirty look.
“No.” She barked out the response as nails digged into her skin more.
“I don’t think you are in the position to argue little pup.”
“And I don’t think you are going to kill me, so drop the act.” Miku arched an eyebrow knowing that she was correct with her own statement. If the vampire wanted to harm her, she would have already done it, but this one held back. This strange behavior from the blood feasting creature had piqued an interest in Miku, just enough to break normalcy and seek the unknown.
The vampire’s grasp had eased while the young wolf shoved her back allowing them both some breathing space. “I can see why your pack isn’t here with you, such a pain in the ass.” She hisses again towards Miku, angry eyes peeking behind the pink bangs. Miku watched more closely as the ghoul wiped her bloody fingers on the dark pants she wore. Everything the salmon haired woman did was elegant as if she lived thousands of decades carrying herself to perfection, and Miku would believe it if she asked.
“Miss?”
“Oh for fuck’s sake what?” The annoyance was raging within her, wanting to get out of werewolf territory before the rest of the pup’s pack showed up.
“Would you mind telling me how old are you?”
“Wait… what?” She was baffled by the wolf’s sudden question. What on earth is she on about?
“I’m not going to harm you, I’m just curious about your lifestyle. That’s all, I promise.” Miku raised her left hand, pinky out waiting for the other to match.
“First off I’m not a child and won’t do no such a thing as a promise, and second it’s rude to ask a vampire how old we are. Don't they teach you werewolves anything?”
“They teach us lots of things, but we are one of three packs that know nothing but to harm vampires.” Miku started to slowly walk around the other cryptid, trying to take in as much as she physically could. Vampires were always known for their beauty and strength to kill in a timely manner, but this one was probably the prettiest one she’s ever seen. She couldn’t even think of a fellow wolf who would match her looks. Just drop dead gorgeous.
“Well thanks for interrupting my dinner,” the other finally waved off trying to step away from the bloody mess near them. Miku reaches out grabbing the cold pale wrist of the vampire. “You little basta-“
“Miku. Hatsune Miku, please.” She shakes her hand lightly, the moonlight danced between their arms. “It truly was a pleasure to meet you.”
The vampire felt saliva build up in her throat making it hard to swallow. “Megurine Luka. I wish I could say the same.”
“I’ll make the next meeting more pleasurable then, in two days' time at Crystal Palace?” Miku picked a location that was neutral between their species and owned by the local loner vampire. “Right at sunset, it’s when the best tea is made during the day.”
Luka couldn’t stop staring at the bewildered wolf who was asking the strangest thing to ever been spoken to her. To meet up with the enemy on equal playing and enjoy their time together? Lunatic. If Luka were to act upon that and meet up with Miku, God she wouldn’t know what the Kagamine twins would do with her.
“No thank yo-“
“Please just once, you can leave at any point. I just at least want this small chance.” The young shifter’s eyes were big as if she was a little puppy begging for the dinner scraps. Never in Luka’s life would she think a werewolf would beg to just spend time with her. Within her own they tend to stay by themselves, if they did reach out it was strictly for business.
“If I say yes will you please let me go.”
“Oh sorry, yeah.” Releasing the blood sucker’s arm, the silence fell between the two. Luka used a few fingers to de tangle a small knot of hair that laid on her chest, avoiding eye contact. Miku’s own hands danced between themselves, trying to find something comfortable to play with during this awkward moment.
“So… Miss Luka, I’ll see you there?” She finally squeaked out the question, taking short glances at the beautiful vamp.
Long nails scratching the salmon hair at the scalp, fangs biting her lower lip while having an internal debate. “Fine, I’ll meet with you at the Crystal Palace. Though I will leave whenever I feel so.”
“That’s fine, thank you.” Miku gave a soft smile, showing her own small fangs while doing so.
“Sure thing, pup.”
Just as the night had started, it ended the same way. The forest was quiet with an occasional cricket chirp, leaves rustling nearby from a rodent. The turquoise haired werewolf just stared at the deer’s carcass, replaying the event still in her head. Kicking the Moss on the ground, having mud cake to the bottom of the sneakers.
“What the hell was I thinking?!” She yelled, her voice echoing in the night. Miku started to annoy the Vamp in the beginning to at least make a safe return to the pack and give warning about the enemy on their territory. The looks of the blood sucker and lack of common knowledge of their kind had gotten the best of the she-wolf. Miku’s logical side wanted to go wake Meiko and Kaito, two pack mates that were next for the leadership roles, on what had happened between the two and possibly earn some respect for surviving a vampire alone.
Though deep down she couldn’t. After pleading with Luka for a short time to meet up with her, how could she? Miku owed nothing to her supposed enemy except for a final resting place. Yet here she was planning a meeting with the two, and for what? To gain some knowledge to later harm the other during a fight against one another, or to prepare to invade the werewolf wanted to hop town and beg for another pack to accept her. She knew only three packs in the nation that had quarrel between the ghouls, and unfortunately her’s was one. The pack wouldn’t even try to learn and understand the fellow cryptids, and it seems the vampire’s didn’t bother to do the same.
The werewolf couldn’t debate all night next to the kill. Miku had ditched the scene, walking towards the line of human housing. Blending back into the normal world again. Miku now knew she had to balance herself between three worlds for the time being, the humans, werewolves, and vampires.